Measuring device



April 6, 1954 J, KAYE 2,674,046

MEASURING DEVICE Filed April 3, 1950 Z5' I fm INVENTOR. 8A #Qro/cz JI Kaye fo fw w Patented Apr. 6, z1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEASURING DEVICE Harold J. Kaye, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 3, 1950, Serial N o. 153,725

3 Claims. (CLES- 178) l f 'Ihis invention has to do with a measuring device or instrument and it is a general object of the invention vto provide a simple, accurate, easily operated device useful for measuring holes,`

grooves or openings generally, andparticularly practical for measuring undercuts, grooves or recesses such Vas may occur in the Walls of holes or bores.

In various machines of manufactures undercut recesses or cavities are provided or required and in many cases it is extremely difficult to accurately engage or measure such recesses. For example, numerous machine made products that are turned or bored have drilled or bored holes with undercut recesses or cavities in the walls thereof. It is necessary or desirable for the workmen producing such elements or structures and for inspectors, etc., to measure or gauge such recesses or undercuts and with ordinary instruments or measuring equipment such operations are generally slow, difficult and not always accurate if they are at all practical.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an instrument applicable to a recess or cavity and contractible for removal therefrom and then subject to operation so it can be measured to give the exact dimension of the recess or cavity.

A general object of the present invention is to provide an instrument of the general character referred to which is readily applicable to and from a cavity or undercut recess and which when re'- moved from such recess can be easily and quickly re-established in exactly the same position that it was in when within the recess, thus Iproviding a means of accurate measurement.

Another object of this invention is to provide an instrument of the general character referred to involving few simple, dependable parts that are easy to operate and which are exceedingly accurate in operation. y

A further object of the present invention is to provide an instrument of the general character referred to including an indicating unit having an indicating hand or the like showing the relative positioning of the parts of such unit, the unit being operated by a screw means and having a work engaging element projecting therefrom movable into and out of engagement with the work,` as for instance, the Walls of a recess or undercut which is to be measured.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an attachment applicable to an indicating 'unit'which attachment provides for simple. quick,

accurate operation of the 'ndicating'unit and also` for engaging or feeling work where the work is to be measured.

The device of the present invention provides,

in general, an indicating unit, means for operat- 5 ing the indicating unit, and work contacting or engaging means related to and operating in connection with the indicating unit. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention the work indicating unit may serve as a device or structure l0 to which the other elements are applied as attachments, Whereas, in accordance With another aspect all of the above mentioned elements cooperate to form one single machine.

The indicating unit may -be a simple structure involving. generally, a case-like body, a bar carried by and reciprocating relative to the body, and an indicator showing the position of the bar relative to the body. In the preferred form the body has a boss-like projection on its exterior and the ends of the bar project from the exterior of the body, one through said boss-like projection.

The indicator may involve a hand cooperating with a suitable scale or graduations and the hand may be operated from the bar as through bearing. A means such as a spring normally yieldingly Y urges the bar in one direction.

Operating means for the bar is provided at one end thereof, preferably at the end remote from the boss-like projection of the body, and this means may involve an extension of the bar threaded thereto and having an operating collar threaded thereon and engaging the body. The means provided for engaging the Work to be measured` involves a pair of relatively movable l 5 arms with laterally projecting lingers at the outer ends thereof. Means releasably connects the inner end portions of the armswith or to the bosslike projection of thebody and this, mounting 'means preferably includes a screw'actuated'clamp i0 mechanism. A member 'isl connected tothe end of the bar projecting from the boss-.like `projection of the body, as by means of a stem, and in the preferred form this member or part is in the nature of a wedge and engages the arms so that when the bar is moved relative to the body the arms are moved relative to each other. In the preferred structure the arms are spring arms normally in retracted relationship and the wedge part acts between the arms to spread them apart. In operating the structure it is manipu- -lated with the arms retracted to a position Where the fingers are in register with the cavity or un- -dercut to be measured. The operating means is :then actuated to causespreading of the arms until vthe fingers enter the recess or-undercut to feel the walls thereof. The position of the bar relative to the body is then observed by reading the indicator whereupon the actuating means is operated so that the fingers are withdrawn from the undercut enabling the instrument to be separated from the work being measured. When removed the operating means is again actuated to bring the parts to exactly the same position that they were in when the fingers were in the undercut feeling the ',.walls thereof. With Y thek instrument thus setthefspacing of the Alinger tips can be readily measured as by calipers, a micrometer or other device, thus enabling the user to ascertain the exact dimension of the undercut.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from `the .following detailed description of a typical .preferred form and application of the invention, tthroughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawingsgf-in which:

.-Fig..1 is'a view oan yinstrumentembodying the present invention showing it in connection .witha .typical unitlof workand .with the .lingers of the instrument engaged in an undercut in the Iwork-to feel the walls of .the undercut, parts of vthe .instrument being broken away to show in section. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l showing :aninstrurnent operated to a position vthere the yfingersareiree ofthe undercut enabling the instrumentfto beseparated from the work. Fig.

.Svisaview similartov Fig. 1 showing the nstru- .mentoperated.fromtheposition shown in Figli, and re-established in exacty the saine position Ithat it was-in when-in the work, asshown in Fig.

y f1, and showing the distancefbetween the tips of Y the fingers .being measured `by a `suitable measuring device. Fig. .4,is an .enlarged longitudinal .detailed -sectional viewof the `portion of the in- -.strument.thatengagesinthework. "5 is an enlarged .longitudinal .detailed sectional view takensubstantially -as indicated byline 5--5 on vFig...2. Fig. 6 is-an enlarged .end view of the parts showninEig. .4, beinga view .taken as. indicated by `.line 6 6 .on.Fig. .4, andFig. 'Tis an enlarged deltailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 'l-l on Fig. 3.

The instrumentprovided bythis inventioncan Vbe used .in Iconnection with .or .for .measuring -various parts'or devicesand"forpurpose of illustration -a typical and simple .arrangement of work W is `illustrated vin .the drawings vand the .workthereshownhasa bore 10 .withan undercut Il therein. This .particular :structure is shown merely 'for ,purpose of illus- .tration or example and the instrument of the ,.presentinvention will be described as ,used and .operated for measuring thesize or depth of the .undercut .recess I I.

jlThein's'trument ofthe ,presentinvention involves, generally, an indicating .unitX, `operat- IngmeansY, and work engaging means'Z.

llThe indicating unit'i may vary widely in vform .and constructionand in the preferred embodi .ment of the invention it is preferably Va single mechanism involving generally .a body A, a bar `B carried by the body to shift or reciprocate relative thereto, an'indicator C visible from the exv 'terior ofthe body, and operating means or a drive .'D' between the bar and the indicator'. 'in the particular case illustrated 'the body A is a 'simple .case or housing construction having a orsylinf'irical side Wall l5, a bottom i6, a rotatable top 1H, .and .a .transparent closure it over the .topmovable-therewith. The-bar. B .which may be .a simple straight v.elongate v el ement is rpreterabiy B asby a suitable screw'fastener 42.

4 carried by the body A to extend diametrically thereof and in the case illustrated a boss or bearing 2B is provided at one side of wall I5 to slidabiy carry one end portion 2l of the bar While a boss-like projection 22 projects from the exterior of the wall i5 diametrically opposite boss 2i) to slidably carry the end portion 23 of the bar. The bar is o1" such iength that its end portions project from or beyond the body `A .or the .parte Vthereof to'beaccessible or engageable at the exteriorof the body.

The indicator C is shown as a hand pivotally Y'supported at 30 so that it is located immediately .above-the top il of the body and it is cooperatively related to a scale or graduations 3i provided onthe upper or visible side of the top. The scale or graduations 39 is visible through the Vtransparent cover I8. The drive between the Vbar Band indicator C- may be any suitable drive serving to show or indicate the position oi the .bar relative -tothe body. n .thepaiticularcase illustrate'ola suitable train fgears S'operatively .connects .the Vbar .and the zindicator.

A'spring '35.preferablya tension spring, is carried inthe body -and is vconnected l.between the body and .bar so that itnorinally Vyieldingly urges the'bar in one direction. jin the particular case illustrated the spring urges the bar toward theside of the wall i5 from which the boss-like 'projection 22 extends.

The operatingnieans Y is provided 'at the exterior of body A and forms a meansfor'conveniently and accurately operating the bar relative to the body. In the preferred form the means y.Zirivolves an extension 4i) .of the end'p'ortio'n 2| of the bar and an operating collar M 'carried by the extension 'Ml and cooperatively engaging the body A. In the particular case illustrated the extension 49 is releasably connected to the outer or terminal end'of endportion `2l of bar The inner portion i4 of "the extension 4Q, that'is, the 'portion adjacent the bar B, is .externallythreaded whi'e the'outer portion l5 ofthe extensioniorms la handle and in practice may be'suitably finished,

for instance, it may be knurled or otherwise liinished or fashioned so that it forms a convenient handle. 'Zl'he operating sleeve Ai 'is threaded on the portion 44 of the extension Alll and-,its inner end "46 abuts the exterior of 'body A, Jfor instance, it may engage Ithe outer side of wall Vi5 of the body. :It will be apparentjpa'rvticularly from Fig. of the drawings, how the sleeve 4l can be rotated to shift the bar B relative Vto case vA against the resistance of the spring 3E, and it will be observed that the spring 36 serves 'to at all times hold the end 45 of the colar 4l in'bearing or pressure engagement with the body unless'thefbar is'delibcrately operated iii) against the-resistance of the-springasby'a deliberate operation intended for this purpose.

vThe :means Z vfor engaging .the workfto be measured includes, generally, vtwo cooperating l`or relatively movable elements,'on`e involving a pair ci relatively 'movable arms with work engaging iingers thereon and theother a `part,'preferably a wedge engaging the arms to operate them relative to each other. In accordance with theiinvention one of the elements of means Z is attached to'and carried by the `body A while the other is attached to and isoperatedby thebarB. In the form of the invention shown inthe drawings .there isa pair-of arms .50 with outr-wardly orlaterally .projecting work engaging portions of the arms which `are joined together at 52 are secured to the case A by a suitable mounting means 60. The mounting means 60 serves to releasably mount the arms 50 on the body A by or through the boss 22 (Fig. 5). In the form of the invention illustrated the mounting means involves an enlargement 6| that may be integral with the inner ends of the arms or with the arm structure where the armsl join. A sleevelike extension. 63 has a longitudinally split portion 64 slidablyengaged over boss 22 and is of such length as to provide a chamber .65 beyond the outer end of the boss 22 and accommodating the end portion 23 of the bar. A threaded clamp 66 is provided to operate the split portion of sleeve 63 so it is clamped onto the boss. The clamp 66 is shown threaded onto the exterior of the sleeve portion and the sleeve and clamp have cooperating inclined or wedge parts 61 which cause ther sleeve to be 'contracted l 4onto the boss when the clamp is threaded along the sleeve.

The part or element that engages and operates the arms relative to each other is shown as involving a head or wedge 10 engaged with the outer end portions of the arms 50, and carried by a stem 1|. The stem is releasably attached to the terminal end of the bar portion 23 as by a `threaded connection 12. The stem 1| extends parallel with the bar B and between :if

the arms 50 and it preferably carries the wedge head 10 so that the head is between the end portions of the arms which carry the :lingers Thewedge head has beveled or inclined wedge faces 15 on which the end portions of the arms are engaged. In the preferred form of the invention the arms 50 are spring members normally substantially parallel as shown in Fig. 2, and -the wedge -head can be positioned as shown in Fig. 2, so that it allows the arms 5|) to assume the normal retracted position there illustrated. As the bar B is. moved relative to body A, for instance', as the means Y is operated so that the wedge head 1|! is moved toward or between the arms, the wedge faces of the Wedge head 10 coact with the end portions of the arms 50 causing the arms to be spread apart. As this operation occurs the indicator C operates with reference to the graduations or scale to show or indicate the position of the bar B` relative to body A.

In accordance with the present invention it is contemplated that the elements of means Z be easily and quickly detachable from the parts of the indicating unit X so that means Z of 5 different sizes or possibly of somewhat different types may be substituted as dilferent types, sizes, or classes of work are to be measured. From the foregoing description it will be apparent how operation of clamp 66 permits of the arm element being readily attached to and removed from unit X and it will be apparent from the drawings how a screw driver or the like applied to the outer end 80 of stem 1| can be operated to engage or release the stem relative to the bar. In the particular case illustrated the head 10 rotatably passes the stem 1| and an enlargement 8| on the outer end of the stem provided with a screw driver slot, or the like, retains the head on the stem.

To operate the structure provided by the present invention an indicator unit X equipped with an operating means Y has work engaging means Z applied thereto of a size or type that will properly operate in connection with the work W to 5 fil .6 be measured. In `the drawings I show a means Z of a size and type designedV to measure an undercut such as is shown in the work W and which is the element that I refer to as being measured. With the operating means Y positioned so that the arms are retracted the instrument is applied to the work W in the manner shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, whereupon the Aoperating means Y is actuated causing the fingers 5| to be moved outwardly until they lengage in or fill the wall of the undercut When the fingers are properly engaged in the undercut as shown in Fig. 1 the indicator C can be observed to ascertain the exact position of the bar B relative to the body A. In a case such as is illustrated in the drawings, where they top" `|1 carries the graduations or scale 3| and is'f'rotatable or shiftable relative to Athe indicator vlC, the top can be positioned so that the indicator shows a reading'of zero (see Fig. 1). The means Y is then actuated so that the elements ofmeans Z return to a position such as is shown vin Fig. 2, enabling the instrument to be withdrawn-'from the work W. When the instrument is clear of the work W the means Y is again operated to return the ngers to the position shown in Fig.

1, and they can be very accurately moved to that position by actuation of means Y while'the indicator C is carefully observed. With the instrumenty detached from the work and the fingers returned to the position that they vwere in when measuring engagement with the work, any suitable measure or measuring device can be employed to ascertain the spacing of the tips of the fingers. It Fig. 3 of the drawings I` show a typical measuring instrument K being used for this purpose. By operating the instrument as just described the size or dimension of the undercut can be accurately ascertained and it 2 will be apparent that with the instrument it is also possible to operate it in an undercut in the undercut is truly round or is out of round. It will be readily understood by those familiar with the art how the instrument can be used or manipulated so that the ngers 5| accurately feel the wall or surface of the undercut in a manner similar to that employed when a measuring instrument K is applied to the fingers, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the indicating unit X employed in carrying out the invention may be a standard or typical indicating device in which case the means Y and Z, as provided by the present invention, may be applied to the unit X as an attachment.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An attachment for an indicating unit having a body with a boss thereon, a bar shiftable relative tothe body with its ends projecting from the exterior of the body, one of the ends extending through the boss, and an indicator showing the position of the bar relative to the body including, an extension releasably attached to the other end of the bar, an actuatorthreaded to the extension and engaging the body to shift the bar relative to the body when rotated, a.

t7 lg-pair f of normallyfstraight fsubstantially zparall'el .iiexible arms vwithl Work engaging lingers attheir outer ends projecting laterally-outward from :the garms, means vreleasaloly securing :the ,inner -end .portions .-of the Varms .to the boss, a straight rigid stem/.smaller in diameter .than the bar, means refieasaioly .attaching one fend fof the -stemfto .the first mentioned fend of the bar with l the stein in -line with `the bar r-andso Athe stem `projects ffrom the bar andzbetweenthe arms and beyond .therouterends of the arms, anda member on the fother 'end of the VAstem normally tbeyond the ,outer ends of thearms and aclaptedto beengaged .-betWeen-thearrns and to Vspread the ngers apart when-the bar is moved toward the body, the distance between theextremities of the `fingers being ,f greaterQthan thatfbetweenthevextremities of the arms. attachment for an indicating unit havingfafbody With'aboss thereon, a barextending 1 ithrough the body fand shiftable ,relativeto the body with-its endsprojectingffrom the exterior -fofthe-bodyfone through .the boss, and lanvindi- `cator -showing the position of 'the .bar relative -vtorthe body including, an extension .releasably attached to `the other rend :of the bar, fan f actua- ;tor threaded to the extension and engaging the body Lto shift the `bar relatve'to the body when =rotated,a pair of .longslender normally straight `spring -armsfwith laterally projecting work engauging iingersattheir outer endsrand projecting Yinopposite directionsfrom thearmsrscrew actuzatedclampmeans releasably securing the inner end i portions of the 'arms to 'the -boss,=a straight rigid stem smaller in diameter than the bar, `vmeans `releasably iattaching `the stem to the :first mentionedend-of ther-bar 'so the stem is inline ywith the'bar and projects therefrom and fbe- -tween the armsfand beyond-,theouter endstliere-V vof, and fa Wedge von 'the stem normally voutward vof the rarms 'and adapted to 'be engaged between the arms to -shift them relative 'to eachother when the bar is moved relative to the body to :move the :stem #toward fthe tbody, the .idistanne Vrelative 'to the 'case :and projecting therefrom,

andmeans carried `by vthecase adapted to 1re- Yciprocate the elements ,relative 'to each other .and to `indicate Ethe relationship of elements .relative to `each `-other, one felement'-havingfa pair of yspaced slender substantially :parallel .spring arms `projecting therefrom 4and parallel therewith, the arms having oppositely lprojecting `,fingers .projecting Alaterally from `their iter- `minal ends, and the other element 'fhaving la slender istem between :and :substantially eoe'xtensive with vthe arms, :and having r.a `wedgeforl its terminal end normally outward of the.1terrni Ynal .ends ofthe'arms and iadapted tosspread the 'ringer-carrying portions thereof 4apart -W-hen the vhead is reciprocated inwardly lrelative "to the arms.

lReferences -Cited :in the tilerof `tl'iispatent UNITED STATES r'PAI'ENI'S Number Name Date 842,044 Wells et al.. Jan. ,-22, 1907 857,810 Kohlhaas .June25, .1907 .953,282 Nash Mar. .29,1910

.1,631,019 Darlington May 31..,1927 .1,656,180 Eisele Jan. 17, ,1928 V2,335,775 Laughton Nov. 30,. 1943 2,404,751 `Schmitt July 23, .1946 2,472,875 .Adams June :14, .19.49

FOREIGN fPAT-ENTS Number Country iDate 327,995 Germany Oct. '20,.19'20 546,843 Great .'Britain July231,i'1942 

